Could you please explain for those people who genuinely have no idea about Twitter, how you use it, how set it up and what followers/ following means (ie not stalking!)

Twitter is a communication tool used for quick, to the point messaging.  You have 140 characters in which to get your message across.

To set up Twitter all you need is a valid email address.  Visit www.twitter.com for easy to follow steps in setting up your account.

You don’t need to be at your PC/Laptop to access Twitter (although there are great desktop tools for when you are).  There’s many mobile apps to make ‘Tweeting’ more convenient and these are generally as user friendly as sms.  Once your account is set up you can ‘find people’ to follow and people can ‘follow’ you.  Following is similar to choosing friends on Facebook and once you’re following someone all of their Tweets will appear on your timeline (page), likewise if someone chooses to follow you then you appear on their timeline.

Twitter has some privacy options that can be selected in the setup process and you don’t have to let everyone see what you’re Tweeting about. In fact if you’d like to keep you whole timeline private (just between you and some select followers) then that is possible too.  Just remember that anything you put out there (anywhere on the internet) is there forever.

How has Twitter worked for you as a networking tool?

Twitter has been an easy way to keep in touch with business contacts on a casual basis.  Instead of having to physically go out and have a meeting with people I can maintain contact on a regular basis at a time that suits me.  When working if I come across an interesting article that might be of interest to my Twitter friends I can post it easily and get an instant response.  This will often prompt discussions (more interaction) strengthening those relationships. Although Social Networking can’t ever replace the benefits of building relationships face to face it certainly helps enhance and strengthen those relationships and works well as part of an overall marketing plan.

How have you set it up and used it?

It’s important to remember that nobody is going to want to keep following you if all you are doing is trying to sell them something. You should share some of your personality so people can get to know more about you as a person – with “business” stuff thrown in every so often. Always remember though that what you put out there stays there forever! A friend of mine once told me that she would never put anything on a social networking site that she wouldn’t want her mother to see. Likewise I’m always conscious of personal safety and refrain from using the names of family members or giving out too many details of future plans etc.

How did you manage to tap in to your network and develop strong business leads?

Being genuine and open to helping other people (not just what’s in it for me) has proven to give great results in all types of networking. When completing a job for some Twitter clients or contacts I’ve often received immediate online recommendations that have led to new contacts and more business. Being able to offer my services and spot an opportunity in conversations was invaluable. I’ve recently sold my business and client base but still have many strong contacts through the “Twitterverse” that will be of benefit to me no matter what my future endeavours are.

I’m hoping to replicate the success of using Twitter for business/networking purposes and build similar connections for our Toastmasters Club.  It’s not just about attracting new members it’s building a support network and sharing information with like-minded people.

Any further information?

When I forwarded our new Twitter info to the club I attached this article that answers a lot of Twitter questions for those unfamiliar with it:

• http://tweeternet.com/

Will you keep in touch on progress?

Will definitely let you know how we go and I’d be very interested to hear success stories/tips from other clubs also.  I’ve used Twitter in business and found it to be a fantastic networking tool while managing to get some strong business leads as well.  Hoping this rubs off for our club.

Charlie Starrett
District 69 Lieutenant-Governor Marketing 2010-11

• Sharing a display with other Area 33 clubs at the Indooroopilly library. We’ll have the Area banner, flyers & posters promoting Toastmasters.
• At the display, Serendipity is promoting their Demonstration meeting to be held in Toastmasters week.
• Ads promoting the meeting are placed in the local paper.
• Dee Douglas is booked to speak at the local Rotary meeting as close as possible to that week.
• Dee to speak at the Brookfield CWA craft meeting that week.

Dee Douglas
Serendipity Toastmasters Club

Do you remember playing tip as a child? Well a similar concept applies here so pass on the clip to your clubs and to your friends or co-workers, you might just attract a new member to your club.

Donna Pace
D70 PRO

• There have been some great initiatives across the District The links below provide you with recent newspaper activity initiated by the clubs in Area 45. By combining a personal success story and some details about their Toastmaster week activities, the articles demonstrate a simple and effective means of promoting Toastmasters in the local community.
• I would encourage you all to consider how you might be able to write similar articles for your club, area or division activities – even if to promote something as simple as a club meeting.
• Parramatta Advertiser   http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/ The full story is at this address with a photo http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/your-news/story/forget-fear/
• The Northern District Times   http://northern-district-times.whereilive.com.au/ and the full story at http://northern-district-times.whereilive.com.au/your-news/story/forget-fear1/
• Hills Shire Times  http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/ with the full story at http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/your-news/story/forget-fear2/.

Donna Pace
District 70 Toastmasters PRO

This is what Area 33 has done for Toastmasters Week. The local library has given us a spot for 3 weeks and I have attached photos of what the display looks like.

Roadside Banner

Also we have the Area 33 banner on the busy roundabout.

Carolyn Phillips
Area 33 Governor

The ad will appear on 16 February for the speechcraft course that will commence 22nd February.  The executive have been busy putting up flyers and posters in the area as well and promoting this event on the ground.

If you live in the Caboolture area, please come along!

Rod Luck
Area 18 Governor

Judy Dawson-Woods
Area 27 Governor

• Buderim Mountain has a Speech craft course beginning soon and has been promoting it widely
• Caloundra has a display at the Caloundra Library and plans to hold a debate at the Sunday Markets in the near future
• Inside Edge is planning to have a display at the Maroochydore Plaza shopping centre
• Kawana Waters Club has a display at the Kawana Library and has planned an Impromptu Speaking and Evaluation display from 12 to 1.30 at the library on the 16th February – the local member has been invited
• Maleny is having a combined meeting with Mercury’s Motivators on the 25th February and they have been putting articles in local papers
• USC Speakers has a table display at the University of the Sunshine Coast  O Week market day and demonstration meeting is planned for later in February.

Fran Kay DTM
Area 22 Governor

• The club has been doing this library display for a few years and so far we have gained a few members from it.
• One member moved from Roma several years ago and was told there was no club close to where he was moving. Disappointed, he was visiting the Beenleigh library one day and saw the display. Now he is club secretary.

If we don’t get any immediate members I’m sure that the community will be more aware of Toastmasters as a result of the display.

Regards

Janice Gallen
Logan Toastmasters Club

• We attended the Australia Day Festival in Kilcoy and MC’d a section of the event, we also put a team in for the Kilcoy Challenge to get further coverage and we put toastmasters flyers on the windscreens of 60 cars.
• Last Meeting 3rd Feb we promoted a ‘Bring a Friend Frenzy‘ night. We had 5 guests! 3 of which said they would definitely be back at the next meeting & 2 are thinking about it.

Dan Sheehan
Kilcoy Toastmasters